On the 9th of September, we

arrived in Naples where we met

up with our Neapolitan Slideshare

friend, Antonio Florino and his

wifeTina Sbrescia. This is our

second encounter. Had a rest and

then off to Antonio’s favourite

restaurant : Ristorante pizzeria

Napoli 1820 Mergellina. Fish

was on the menu...Delicious

meal.

Agriturismo Aia del Tufo.

Immersed in the Tuscan

countryside, this working farm

produces olive oil, wine,

vegetables and wheat. It even

has its own restaurant and a

children's mini farm. Our room

had hand-crafted furniture, an

Etruscan-style fresco on the wall,

tiled floors and windows

overlooking the garden.

Gorga my wifeGorga my wife

Tina wife to Antonio.Tina wife to Antonio.

Agriturismo Aia del Tufo is

home to goats, ducks, donkeys,

pigs, a deer, rabbits, dogs and

cats.

We were lucky to be present

when mama pig gave birth to 18

piglets. Father to them all is sun

basking, with Gorga watching

close by.

Agriturismo Aia del Tufo…Its

farmland is cultivated with respect

for nature and the environment

and provides the kitchen with the

ingredients for healthy and

delicious dishes that the cook

then prepares for us… (vegetable

soup, home made pasta with wild

boar sauce, lamb and will boar

stew, rabbit & meat - just to

mention a few dishes).

The cook behind the great The cook behind the great cookingcooking

info@aiadeltufo.com

Our first excursion was to Sorano a town and comune in the province of Grosseto, southern Tuscany. It is an ancient medieval hill town hanging from a  tuff stone over the Lente River.Along the narrow streets we came across numerous slabs with a dedication to historical Sorano. Antonio showed us the sites then settled down for lunch.

Slabs dedicated to SoranoSlabs dedicated to Sorano

Back at the farmhouse where we spent most of our time relaxing, surrounded by family pets and 30 hectares of farmland. Here Alfredo (Executive Manager) and Floriana (Executive Chef) cultivate their vegetables that provide the ingredients for the healthy and delicious dishes they then serve to their patrons.

Saturnia and its Thermal

Springs…Saturnia is a small

town in the municipality of

Manciano in Maremma, that

stands on top of a hill overlooking

the famous thermal springs.

The town stands close to

an Etruscan necropolis along

the Roman road Clodia, situated

in between the Aurelia and

Cassia roads. It dates back to the

2nd century B.C. 

These thermal These thermal waters have a waters have a temperature of temperature of 37.5 °c and 37.5 °c and therapeutic and therapeutic and relaxing relaxing properties.properties.

““DISGUSTING” that was the reaction we got when DISGUSTING” that was the reaction we got when

our grandsons saw this photo.our grandsons saw this photo.

TinaTina

AntonioAntonio

Relaxing in the warm sulphurous Relaxing in the warm sulphurous waters of Saturniawaters of Saturnia

This Archaeological Area of

Sovana is located west of Sovana.

It has the most beautiful funereal

monuments that date back to the

beginning of the 3rd century BC,

including the large Pola and the

Ildebrando tomb, discovered in

1924. The necropolis is noteworthy

not so much for its enormous size,

but for the many different types of

tombs it contains. 

The tomb of The tomb of IldebrandaIldebranda, the , the

most famous tomb most famous tomb in the entire in the entire necropolis of necropolis of

Sovana.Sovana.            

Making sure Making sure

Ildebranda did Ildebranda did

not leave any not leave any

riches.riches.

Me and AntonioMe and Antonio

The beauty of Sovana:

Etruscan by origin,

Sovana became a

Roman municipium, and,

from the 5th century, an

Episcopal see.

We really fell in love with

this place. 

Protected by the Orsini family

from Pope Paul IV’s catholic

church segregation, the Jewish

community flourished and

Pitigliano became known as La

Piccola Gerusalemme or “Little

Jerusalem.” In 1773, Pitigliano

had a Jewish population of 200.

Jews were involved in all sorts

of trades and owned shops

selling crafts, cloth and spices.

Entrance to Entrance to

Little Little Jerusalem.Jerusalem.

Items of wear Items of wear and other

and other crafts.crafts.

Leaving my Leaving my mark as a

mark as a Maltese visitor.Maltese visitor.

Inside the Inside the Synagogue

Synagogue

Made to wear a Kippah (skullcap) after paying a

Made to wear a Kippah (skullcap) after paying a small deposit.small deposit.

Popular area Popular area

that has been that has been

featured in featured in

several films.several films.

Whilst Gorga took to the

Whilst Gorga took to the steps, Antonio and I drove

steps, Antonio and I drove on to the very bottom …

on to the very bottom …

Positano is a village and comune

on the Amalfi Coast (Costiera

Amalfitana), in Campana. 

Buying for our granddaughterSheltering from the rain

Picturesque

Positano

Tina and Antonio made our stay a memorable one. We Tina and Antonio made our stay a memorable one. We

had our own room and our own bath, the rest of the had our own room and our own bath, the rest of the

house we shared with the couple. We had breakfast house we shared with the couple. We had breakfast

together and dinner . Both Tina and Antonio are together and dinner . Both Tina and Antonio are

excellent cooks. They too share our love for fish.excellent cooks. They too share our love for fish.

Sheltering from the rain

< With Antonio at Sovano< With Antonio at Sovano

< Amidst 2 ladies< Amidst 2 ladies

< Antonio & Tina’s favourite < Antonio & Tina’s favourite

restaurant . Just 3 mins away restaurant . Just 3 mins away

from home.from home.

I just love to sprinkle I just love to sprinkle

pepper on my food >pepper on my food >

A mysterious looking loaf that A mysterious looking loaf that

was filled with cooked fish >was filled with cooked fish >

Relaxing time for Relaxing time for Antonio & Gorga >Antonio & Gorga >

<< The Duomo at The Duomo at PitiglianoPitigliano

< < In front of a In front of a baker’s oven baker’s oven

in Jewish in Jewish Little Little

JerusalemJerusalem

<< Monkeying Monkeying around with a around with a

huge urnhuge urn

No worries…relaxation time >No worries…relaxation time >

Gorga Gorga contemplating on contemplating on

what to do with her what to do with her ravioli ravioli

A visit to one of A visit to one of many churches >many churches >

A liqueur with a funny name:A liqueur with a funny name:

““The cock’s milk”The cock’s milk”

An An aphrodisiac: Wild aphrodisiac: Wild

Boar matured penis Boar matured penis on sale.on sale.

This powerpoint is dedicated to my dear friend Antonio and his lovely This powerpoint is dedicated to my dear friend Antonio and his lovely wife Tina… with special thanks for their great hospitality, charisma wife Tina… with special thanks for their great hospitality, charisma

and friendship. They are forever etched in our hearts. and friendship. They are forever etched in our hearts.

The The embedded embedded song is for song is for you Antonio you Antonio & Tina.& Tina.